Upcoming Events

The European Stroke Organisation Conference is the premier European forum for stroke research and rapidly becoming the world’s foremost platform for the release of major trial data. The 5th European Stroke Organisation Conference takes place in Milan, Italy on 22-24 May 2019. ESOC 2019 will see presentations of major clinical trials, state-of-the-art presentations by renowned clinicians and researchers, and updates on the latest guidelines. The programme has a range of different educational and scientific sessions which will address all your learning needs as a professional in the Stroke field.

The Northern Ireland Stroke Conference is a must for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge, professional expertise and learning. Participants at the 2019 conference will:

1. gain an MDT perspective and network with colleagues from across the whole stroke care pathway;
2. find out about the latest industry developments and innovations;
3. share your view with key players to help improve stroke care;
4. gain relevant accredited professional training;
5. showcase your work by providing an abstract.

More details here.

The HRB-TMRN are organising a webinar on the 12th June (2pm) that will focus on methodological and ethical issues of clustering and cross-over. Delivered by Cory Goldstein (Rotman Institute of Philosophy, Canada) and Dr Monica Taljaard (uOttawa Canada), this webinar is based on their paper of the same title, published in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia (available here). The abstract of the paper is detailed below.

The webinar is free and will be delivered through Zoom, and you can register here.

Paper Abstract

Spence et al. describe the need for more randomized controlled trials to provide rigorous evidence of the real-world effectiveness of treatments and treatment strategies in anesthesia practice. This call is supported by evidence citing a large degree of individual practice variability among cardiac anesthesiologists regarding benzodiazepine use within the standard of care.1 They describe the cluster randomized crossover design as ideal for this purpose. In the proposed approach, they “seek to evaluate the impact of two different approaches to cardiac anesthesia, one where nearly all patients receive intraoperative benzodiazepines unless there are contraindications (routine benzodiazepine arm), and the other where nearly all patients receive no intraoperative benzodiazepines unless there are contraindications (benzodiazepine restricted arm)…during 12, four-week crossover periods”.1 The interventions are implemented as policies such that all eligible patients in the hospital during each period receive the allocated interventions by default without any patient recruitment or consent. While we do not dispute the need for rigorous evidence to inform policy and practice, we have concerns regarding the methodological and ethical issues raised in trials such as the B-Free trial.

The 4th PPI Summer School is being organised by the Graduate Entry Medical School and the Health Research Institute at the University of Limerick. The theme of this year’s school is Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in health research: Giving people a voice. The Summer School is designed for individuals who wish to develop their knowledge and access resources for meaningful Public and Patient Involvement in health research.  The organisers welcome participation from community organisations, patient groups, researchers, students, health service providers and policy makers. Workshops being planned include a session with the HRB on “what should go in your grant application PPI section; with patients and the community on “what we want to get out of a research partnership”; “arts-based methods to PPI”; in addition to sessions on finding research partners, collaborative dissemination, PPI in doctoral research, and ethics in PPI.

More details, and to register, available here.

The Irish Research Nurses Network are holding a study day on Thursday 13th June 2019 on “Applied and practical learning for excellence in clinical research practice”. Topics covered range from trial set-up and feasibility, to preparing for audits and inspections. A schedule for the day can be accessed here.

This training day is free for IRNN members, and €50 for non-members.

To register, please click here.

To join IRNN, please visit here.

Organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, this course provides attendees with a clear understanding of the fundamental principles of Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs). Lectures and practical sessions cover the key issues to be considered in design, conduct, analysis and reporting, with a focus on major clinical trials which directly influence clinical practice. Topics are addressed with perspectives from both public sector research and the pharmaceutical industry. The course is relevant to all those who want to gain an understanding of the rigorous evaluation of interventions in health care, including clinical research professionals, research managers, and other scientists with an interest in clinical trials.

Course fee
The course fee for 2019 is £1,784.00. Fees normally cover participation in the course, course materials and refreshments each day. Fees do not cover travel costs or accommodation.

More details on this short course available here.

The Irish Research Nurses Network are holding a study day on Thursday 13th June 2019 on “Applied and practical learning for excellence in clinical research practice”. Topics covered range from trial set-up and feasibility, to preparing for audits and inspections. A schedule for the day can be accessed here.

This training day is free for IRNN members, and €50 for non-members.

To register, please click here.

To join IRNN, please visit here.

Organised by the HRB-TMRN, this workshop will introduce participants to the design and conduct of N-of-1 trials in health research. The workshop will be delivered in three parts:

Part 1: Introduce participants to the reasons for which N-of-1 trials are conducted and contemporary examples of their use in informing clinical decision-making.

Part 2: Introduce participants to the range of designs available within the suite of N-of-1 methods. The strengths and weaknesses of these designs will be discussed and issues related to the analysis of data produced by these designs will be introduced. Reporting guidelines for N-of-1 trials will also be presented.

Part 3: Focus on the practicalities of data collection during N-of-1 trials. These trials usually require intensive longitudinal measurement of outcomes within individuals. Strategies such as daily diaries, online surveys and smartphone-delivered experience sampling will be discussed. The workshop will conclude with a group discussion on opportunities to apply N-of-1 methods within health research in Ireland and whether further training opportunities would be useful.

The workshop will be delivered by Dr. Suzanne McDonald (Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK; Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, AUS).

Dr McDonald is a Research Methodologist and is interested in the development and application of N-of-1 methods (also known as ‘single-case methods’) in psychology and medicine. Suzanne is co-chair of the International Collaborative Network for N-of-1 Clinical Trials and Single-Case Experimental Designs and co-chair of the UK Network for N-of-1 Methods. Suzanne is also a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC).

Click here for more details and to register.

This one day course is relevant to Principal Investigators, research nurses and associated research site personnel who have not undertaken GCP training within the previous 2 years. The following content is included: 1. Introduction to Drug Development and Clinical Research; 2. Research Ethics and Clinical Research Governance; 3. Principles of Good Clinical Practice; 4. Investigator Responsibilities; 5. Regulatory Inspection. The course has Category 1 Approval from the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) – 6 CEUs. It also meets the minimum criteria for ICH GCP investigator site personnel training identified by TransCelerate Biopharma as necessary to enable mutual recognition of GCP training among trial sponsors.

Cost: €100.00 (Clinical/Academic rate), €200.00 (Industry rate), €30 (Student rate)

Contact: Deirdre Hyland, (01) 809 3785 dhyland@rcsi.ie

The Wellcome Trust HRB Clinical Research Facility, St. James’s Hospital will host “An Introduction to GCP” training courses for Investigators and Site Staff on 09.09.2019. Training takes place from 14.00-17.00 in the CRF Seminar Room. The course includes a brief introduction to the national regulatory framework, Principles of ICH-GCP, Investigator Responsibilities and Essential Documents. The course is delivered with a practical focus and provides workshops and opportunities for discussion. Certificates of attendance will be provided on the day. The training is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (3 CEUs).

The Organisation for Psychological Research into Stroke (OPSYRIS) special interest group is primarily (but not exclusively) for clinical and neuropsychologists researching in stroke rehabilitation. OPSYRIS also encourage links between research and clinical practice. The aim of the group is to facilitate research in psychological aspects of stroke rehabilitation, to provide research on stroke which informs clinical psychology practice and to promote the consideration of psychological factors in clinical stroke services. Annual meetings are held to promote communication between researchers, update the knowledge base and to facilitate new developments in clinical research. The next meeting will take place on 4th October 2019, hosted by the University of Oxford. More information about OPSYRIS can be accessed here.

Building on the success of 2017, the 5th International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference promises to be a unique opportunity for those working in clinical trials to meet and discuss the current issues within trials and trials methodology. The event will showcase the very latest in trials methodology research and offer plenty of valuable opportunities for networking. The Conference will also mark 10 years since the Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research began in 2009. A diverse programme will be prepared by the Scientific Committee and Education Committee, which promises to make this a highly rewarding and enjoyable meeting for all. The 2019 conference will take place in the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant and iconic seaside resorts, Brighton, located on the south coast of England. Brighton has attractions for all; including its world-famous Victorian pier, the grand the Neo-Oriental Royal Pavilion and the 450-foot i360 observation tower, which delivers breathtaking 360 degree views.

The Wellcome Trust HRB Clinical Research Facility, St. James’s Hospital will host “An Introduction to GCP” training courses for Investigators and Site Staff on 15.11.2019. Training takes place from 14.00-17.00 in the CRF Seminar Room. The course includes a brief introduction to the national regulatory framework, Principles of ICH-GCP, Investigator Responsibilities and Essential Documents. The course is delivered with a practical focus and provides workshops and opportunities for discussion. Certificates of attendance will be provided on the day. The training is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (3 CEUs).

The UK Stroke Forum Conference is the largest multidisciplinary conference for stroke care professionals. The three day conference brings together over 100 expert speakers and researchers, all committed to improving stroke care. the conference gives attendees the opportunity to: 1. gain relevant accredited professional training; 2. find out the latest research and service developments; 3. learn about new innovations and services in the exhibition; 4. network with colleagues from across the entire care pathway; 5. showcase their work by submitting an abstract for presentation at the event. The next conference will take place 3rd-5th December 2019. More details, including calls for submission, will be available by the second half of the year.

7th ESO-ESMINT-ESNR Stroke Winter School will take place from 28 – 31 January 2020. ESO, together with ESMINT and ESNR, endorses a winter course for young stroke physicians and neuroradiologists on the topic of acute interdisciplinary stroke treatment. The primary goal of the ESO- ESMINT-ESNR winter school on acute interdisciplinary stroke treatment is to join European young stroke physicians and young neuroradiologists in order to enhance interdisciplinary management of patients with acute ischaemic stroke. A series of concentrated high quality teaching sessions and courses on acute stroke management will be offered at a low price. The secondary goal of the winter school is to perform “hands-on” courses for interventional neuroradiologists and special teaching sessions for stroke physicians. The winter school offers a unique method of teaching. Combining plenum sessions, discussions and technical training, it fosters improvement in treatment of cerebrovascular disease and advance research in this complex field, leading to technical developments.

Further information will be available in early autumn 2019 from the ESO-ESMINT-ESNR Stroke Winter School website here.